Parent wanting me to release a child to someone they don't know?

[mamaof4]

For arguments sake-- my dh was out of town, I had a kidney obstruction and was in the hospital hopped up on drugs, and in a pinch I had to have my neighbor pick up my kids. It was not pre-arranged, but the kids knew the woman very well- and she was one of the 'contacts'. Is this something that would cause issues?

[sunnydays]

I am assuming that you called the neighbour to have him/her pick up your kids...were you not able to give a quick call to the daycare provider as well? Obviously, if there is not parent able to even call in the case of an emergency, then we would have to allow one of the authorized contacts to pick them up. Thinking about this has made me want to add a section to that authorization section saying that if both parents are unable to call for reasons such as hospitalization, I am allowed to release to the contacts without prior arrangement from the parent...hmmmm...

For arguments sake-- my dh was out of town, I had a kidney obstruction and was in the hospital hopped up on drugs, and in a pinch I had to have my neighbor pick up my kids. It was not pre-arranged, but the kids knew the woman very well- and she was one of the 'contacts'. Is this something that would cause issues?

[mom-in-alberta]

mamaof4... I would still need to talk to at least ONE of the parents before releasing the kids. In an absolute emergency like this, I would let the kids leave with neighbor lady as soon as either mom or dad had verbally okay-ed it.
I would need to hear it from the parents directly, because as extreme as this could get; many, many abductions are perpetrated by people known to the family. That may be the absolute worst case scenario, but it could happen. And I wouldn't want to have any part in it.

[playfelt]

My pickup form has the parents list the names and phone numbers of anyone they want to authorize to pick up and I encourage them to list a relative or close friend for times when they might be unable to do the pickup. The page is worded such that I can release the child to anyone on that list. At the same time I would never do it without a call. If someone from the list showed up I would be callling one of the parents before agreeing to release depending on the story the person gave me. I would find it odd that the parent could call the contact and not call me. I have had it the other way around where a parent calls and says they are still in a meeting or got a flat tire and going to be very late and have asked me to call the person on the conact list and see if they could pick up instead.

I agree that abductions by known people is a possibility. At the same time in the grand scheme of parents with flat tires or medical emergencies it is the exception not the rule. Most of my parents know that leaving the child with me in an emergency is actually better because I have everything the child needs and less for them to worry about.

[mamaof4]

I called the daycare lady but she did not answer and her voice mail box was full.

[Momof4]

No freaking way! I have contract and medical emergency forms and if I have not met people even though they have been specified on paper I will not release the children unless the parent is on the phone to me at that minute of pickup and giving express permission.

[Momof4]

In a case of my own illness as you described I would have a family member come immediately to my daycare to care for the children until the parents arrive to pick them up. I hope you feel better quickly.